Manifold construction



Nom 29, 1932. "H. T. THOMAS ET Al.

MANIFOLD CONSTRUCTION Filed March l2, 1928 NN MN Patented Nov. 29,41,932

UNITED .STATES PA'rENrgA oFFicE nonnen r. Tnoiras; or LANSING, ANDANDREW L. man., or nnrnorr, moment' j MANIFOLD coNs'rRuctl'roNApplication led Iarch 12, 1928. Serial No. 260376. i

This invention relates to'a manifold construction and more particularlyto an improved construction :of this character including a novelarrangement of heat controlling means. i

One of the-objects of this invention is provide "apparatus of thischaracter wherein means is provided for passing a heated fluid, throughthe mixture generated by the car- -bureting device; for controlling therate of How of the heated fluid; for localizing the 4heat at the desiredpoint or points with reference to the gaseous mixture; and to `obtainthese advantages without altering the proportions of the mixture. I

Another important object of this invention l is to provide apparatus ofthis character whereby the heat employed for controlling the temperatureof the* mixture generated by the carbureting device is controlledjointly by the operation `of the engine and the underhood temperature.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the hereindescribed character wherein the amount of heat permitted to act upon thegaseous mixture may be automatically regulated and controlled inaccordance with the operating conditions of the engine at thatparticular instant.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thisnature wherein the flow of the heat fluid is controlled by valvesactuated by'a suction device connected to the intake manifold of theengine, the effect of this suction device upon the valves beingfurthericontrolled by a thermostatic device responsive to changes in theunder-hood temperature.

Various other objects,Y advantages and novel details of construction ofthe present invention .will be made more' apparent as this descriptionproceeds, especially when considered in connection with the-accompanyingdrawing wherein our improved manifold construction is shown incombinatio with a conventional type of motor the parts being partlyineleva-tion and partly in vertical section.

Referring now to the drawing whereinA like reference charactersindicatelike parts 1t will be noted that there illustrated fragmentarilyaconventional type of motor 10 provided with an exhaust manifold 11 andan inlet manifold 12 connected to a carburetor. 13. The referencecharacter 14 indicates the usual butterfly valve located between thecarburetor 13 an intake manifold 12. The gaseous mixture generated bythe carburetor 13 enters the intake manifold.. 12 substantiallycentrally longitudinally mthereof through the inlet opening 15.

nxtendingiongitudimuy through the i'ntake manifold 12 is a heatingdevice indicated generally by the reference character 16. This heatingdevice consists essentially of a pipe or conduit which enters the inletmanifold 12 through one end thereof and passes longitudinallytherethrough and out of the manifold through the other end. Exhaust'gases are adapted to be passed through this heating element 16l in amanner to be more fully hereinafter described, but it will be apparentthat by reason of this construction a thorough heating of the mixturefrom the carburetor will be obtained because the heatlength of themanifold.

It is desirable and expedient to localize the heat of the heating deviceat one or more points throughout the intake manifold and in the presentembodiment the heat is'local- .7 5 ing device extends throughout theentire ized adjacent the inlet opening 15 of the manifold. This isaccomplished in the present instance by forming t gas through theheating prtion of the heating element to thus localizee heatingdevice-16v with a restricted portion 17. Thus the pasat the restrictedportion the heat adjacent the opening 15 where the carbureted mixtureenters the intake maniffold. Obviously the heat may also be localized atany desired point or points through'- out the length of the heatingdevice by forming this heating device 16 with a portion or portions ofdifferent cross section or by havinga portion or portions 'of greatersize or diameter thus presenting a'greater exposed area to the mixturebeing heatedm sage of the exhaust gases through the heating element.Preferably associated with the valve 21 are balehembers 22 which act,even in the open positio of valve 21 to retard the passage of theexhaust gases through the heating element to the exhaust manlfold. Theconnection 18 between the heating element and the exhaust manifold atone end includes a washer or gasket 18 of asbestos or other materialwhich'is a non-conductor of heat and the connection 20 between theheating element and the manifold at the other end in.l

cludes a gasket or washer 20 of asbestos or, 'u

other material which is a non-conductor of heat. Thus the heat stored inthe mass of metal which comprises the exhaust manifold cannot flow fromthis` exhaust manifold thro h Y the heating device to the intakemanilbld to overheat-.this manifold and the carbureted mixture thereincontained.` This back-flow of heat frequently occurs, particularly afterthe motor has been driven hard or continuously and is stopped. Suchback-flow to the heat intake manifold sometimes sufficiently overheatsthe carbureted mixture to prevent the read starting of the motor again.By insulatlng the heating device and the exhaust manifoldv in the manner11st described this objection is eliminated. y

Located in the outlet end of the exhaust manifold isa main valve 23 thepurpose of which is to cause more or less of the exhaust gasto flowthrough the heating element 16,

ythis valve being located above the connection 20 between the outlet endof the heating element and the exhaust manifold. Obviously as valve 23approaches closed position more of the exhaust gas is caused to travelthrough the heating element 16 and as valve 23 approaches open positionthe opposite conditions exist. ,f

' For controlling valves 19, 21 and23 there is provided a suctiondevice-here shown as consisting essentially of a cylinder 24 connectedat one end thereof by a\conduit 25 with the intake manifold 12. A piston26 reciprocates in cylinder 24 and is connected by means of a rod-27, athermostat 28 and a second rod 29 to an operating lever 30 of valve 23.If desired, a bellows or bellowy like device maybe substituted for thevacnum or suction device herein illustrated.

The thermostat` 28 may be in the form of a metallic bellows althoughobviously any de- 'sired typeA of Vthermostat may be employed.

A coil spring 31 located within cylinder 24 acts normally to urge piston26 to the left, as viewed in the drawing, against the action of thevacuum created in the right hand end of the cylinder by reason of itsconnection with the intake manifold. Valve 21 is provided with anoperating lever 32 and valve 19 is provided with an operating lever 33which are united as for instance by means of a link rod 34 so that theymay operate in unison. A rod 3,5' connects the operating lever 32 ofvalve 21 to an arm 36 connected to valve 23. Therefore any movement ofpiston 26 simultaneously operates valves 23, 21 and 19.

In operation, when the engine is idling, the suction of the intake`manifold 12 moves the piston 26 to substantially thefull line positionshown inthe drawing to thus cause the valves 19, 21 and 23 -to assumesubstantially the positions also illustrated in full lines. Under theseconditions substantially all of the exhaust gases from the exhaustmanifold are caused to flow through the heating element 16. As thethrottle valve 14 is opened the, suction effort exerted by the intakemanifold is diminished in accorda ce with the increasedspeed of themotor and as a consequence spring 31 acts to move piston 26 toward theleft to move the several valves toward their dotted line positions.Obviously as valve 23 approaches its full open position a greaterpercentage of exhaust gas is permitted to pass \directly out through theexhaust manifold. This creates an ideal condition because under thesecircumstances a greater quantity of exhaust gas is passing through theexhaust manifold and consevquently a smaller percentage of the total loshood temperature. As this temperature rises,

vthat it is unnecessary or undesirable to highy heat the incomingmixture from the carburetor. y

It will be noted that with the herein described construction thecombustible mixture in the intake manifold is heated by passing 60*actuating said'valves.

the heating fluid through the mixture Without altering the proportionsof this mixture and that further with the herein describedv constructionthe heat may be localized at any desired point. l

It will be obvious that while one specific embodiment of theinventionhas been illustrated and described "in detail various changesin many of the essentialand all of the non-essential details ofconstruction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention and to this end reservation is made to makesuch' changes as may come Within the 'purview of the accompanyingclaims.

What we claim as our invention is f 1. The combination with an internalcombustion engine including an exhaust manifold, an intake manifold anda charge forming device connected thereto, of means for heating thecharge passing through said uitake manifold, said means including aconduit connected to said exhaustl manifold and ex-` tending throughsaid intake manifold, said conduit having means for localizing the heatat one point -within said manifold.

2. The combination With an internal combustion enginelincluding anexhaust manifold, anintake manifold and a charge forming deviceconnected thereto, of means for heatingfthe charge passing through saidintake manifold, said means includin ya con duit connected to saidexhaust mani old' and extending through said intake manifold, saidconduit having a relatively restricted portion at one point in itslength, for the purpose set forth. g

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine including anexhaust manifold, an intake manifold and a charge forming deviceconnected thereto, of means for heating the charge passing through saidintake manifold, said means including a conduit extending longitudinallythrough said intake manifold, said conduit having a flattened portionfor localizing the heat at one point Within the manifold,- and meansconnecting said conduit to said exhaust manifold.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine includin@ anexhaust manifold, an intake manifold and a charge forming deviceconnected thereto, of'a heating element including a conduit extendingthrough said intake manifold, valve controlled means connecting saidconduit to saidexhaust manifold, a valve in said exhaust manifold fordirecting exhaust gases through said conduit and a ysinglesuctionactuated 5. The combination with an internal combustion engineincluding an exhaust manifold, an intake lmanifold and a chargeformingdevice connected thereto, of a heating element including a conduitextending through Isaid intake manifoldrvalve controlled means u thesuction in said intake mechanism for.v

` fold, a valve in said exhaust manifold for directing exhaust gasesthrough said conduit, a single suction device connected to the .intakemanifold andt actuated in dependence upon manifold and means connectingsaidi suction device to said valves for actuating the latter.

7. The combination with an internal combustion engine including anexhaust manifoldan intake manifold and a charge forming device connectedthereto, of means for .heating the chargeipassing through said intakemanifold including a conduit extending through said intake manifold,means connecting the inlet and outlet ends of said conduit to saidexhaust manifold, valves controlling said inlet and., outlet, a valve insaid exhaust manifold for directing exhaust gases through said conduit,means connecting said valves for simultaneous operation and a suctiondevice connected to'said intake manifold for actuating said valves.

8. The combination with an internal combustionv engine including an'exhaust manifold, an intake manifold and a charge forming deviceconnected' thereto, of means for heating the charge passing through saidintake manifold including a conduit extending through said intakemanifold, means connecting the inlet and outlet said exhaust' manifold,valves controlling said inlet and outlet, a valve in said exhaustmanifold for Adirecting exhaust'gases through said conduit, meansconnecting said valves for smiultaneous operation, a suotlon deviceconnected to said intake manifold forL actuating said valves and athermo-responsive device.

for modifying the action of said suc/tion means.

9. The combination with an internal combustion engine including anexhaust manifold, an intake manifold, and a charge form- Ylng deviceconnected thereto, of means for heating the carbureted mixture includingmeans for passing a heating medium through the carbureted mixture andfor localizing the heat at a predetermined desired point.

10. The combination with an internal combustion engine including. anexhaust manifold, an intake manifold and a charge forming deviceconnected thereto, of means for passing a heating medium through thecarends of said conduit to iio bureted mixture for heating the latterand for-restricting the passage of the heating medium at a predeterminedpoint to localize the heat at the said point.

11. The combination'with an internal combustion engine including anexhaust manifold, an intake manifold and a charge forming deviceconnected thereto, of a heating device associated With said intakemanifold, means for passing exhaust gas from said exhaust manifold tosaid heating device, a plurality of valves for controlling the passageof exhaust gas through said heating device, a pressure actuated devicefor actuating said valves, and thermoresponsive means for varying theactuation of said valves incident .to a predetermined Iactuation of saidpres sure actuated device. f

12. The combination with an internal combustion engine including anexhaust manifold, an intake manifold and a charge forming deviceconnected thereto, of a heating device associated with said intakemanifold,-

means for passing exhaust gasfrom; said exhaust manifold to said heatingdevice, a plurality of valves for controllin the passage of .exhaust gasthrough said hating device, a fluid actuated device. a connectionbetween said fluid actuated device and said valves for actuating thelatter from the former, and thermoresponsive means for adjusting said vconnection.

13. The combination with an internal combustion engine including anexhaust manifold, an intake manifold, and a charge forms ing deviceconnected thereto, of a heatingl device arranged in said intakemanifold, a

Vconduit for passing exhaust gases from said exhaust manifold throughsaid heating device,.a valve for controlling the flow of exhaust gasesthrough said conduit, a suction device connected to the said intakemanifold.

va-connection between said suction device and said valve for actuatingthe latter from the former, and athermostat in said connection formodifying the control of the valve by the suction device. 14. Thecombination with an internal coming device connected to the intakemanifold of a heatnga device associated with the said intake manifold, aconduitfor conducting exhaust gases from said exhaust manifold to saidheating device, a valve for controlling the fiow of exhaust gasesthrough said conduit, a suction device connected to the intake manifold,a connection between the suction device and the valve for actuating thelatter from the former, and temperature responsive means for adjustingsaid connection.

In testimony whereof we aix our signa-y tures.

HORACE T. THOMAS. ANDREW L. KIMBALL.

bustion engine including an exhaust manifold. an intake manifold,and acharge forming ydevice connected thereto, of a heating device arrangedin said intake manifold, a conduit for passing exhaust gases from saidexhaust manifold through said heating device, a valve for controllingthe How of exhaust gases through said conduit, a suction deviceconnected to the intake manifold, a

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